Smart move from Shirley Wouters to host the Japanese in the Netherlands, after all they are now in the neighborhood. Shirley is our contact at Craftlines, the distributor for Art Clay Silver in the Benelux.

​And because we like to learn techniques as much as possible, Inge and I have decided to subscribe these classes as well. Unfortunately Annemarie can’t come, her "children" want to see her back in front of the class. An Meel and Joyce van Roosmalen will join us, but go on their own, like some other colleagues.
 
Inge and I have decided to travel directly from England to the next location, Hotel Marickenland Mijdrecht. This saves a lot of traveling time. Karin De Pauw has offered to collect us from Schiphol, she too stays at the hotel. Renske Dussel also is on her way already, I like to share my room with my friend. 
 
After arriving in Mijdrecht we enjoy a drink and some snacks with Dice Minagawa and Kuniaki Iwahasi. I feel light tiredness arise, those were exciting and surely busy days. A nice sleep and in the morning a good breakfast to have a fit start for the next two days. Okay, one more Baileys than, in our room, in a plastic cup, for old times sake!
 
During the first masterclass we make a Shine Stone Ring. With this technique, all of the bezels wil be designed in the silver clay, before the eventual piece of jewelry will be fired. The stones are put afterwards. So every stone retains its maximum shine, making the jewel can sparkle best. The technology is great, but certainly not easy. Everything must be calculated correctly. The final result shows the advantages of this technique.

Afterwards quite a number of colleagues stay to attend the dinner together. Great food, drinks and socializing. After dinner some participants go home, but there are also women who have booked an overnight stay. Who wants an afterparty in the hotel room of Renske and me? Margit Borst-Topper and Karin De Pauw seem to like a Baileys. How lucky, because Renske but brought 3 bottles. Worst case scenario we start tomorrow’s masterclass with a hangover, hahaha. I love it so much, just a bunch of teenagers on school camp 😉 !

The next morning we start at 09.30. Beforehand a proper breakfast provides enough energy to keep going until lunch. Today the "Hollow Ring" is on the program. This project consists a base ring of silver clay, an intermediate layer of wax and an openwork top layer of silver clay. Optionally there can be used CZ. This project shows still a tough job, but the end result is great. Look at the pictures.

It has come to an end, we'll closing and going home. I ride with Renske and from Bilthoven I want to take the last stretch by train. But she doesn’t want to hear about that, she brings me all the way to Harderwijk. So incredibly sweet, thank you friend!
 
Finally back home, unpack and reminisce on a full week Metal Clay.
Feeling Blessed & O So Happy!

​Thursday, March 23, I'm up early. Showering, dressing and final check: Do I have everything?

5:15 am Annemarie Klappe and her husband Reinco stop for our house. I can ride with them to the airport for our flight to England. I'm on my way to the You Can Make It in 2017 in Wareham, Dorset, hurray!

It's been a few years ago that a Metal Clay conference was held in the UK. The You Can Make It now seems to be an annual event, so I see our current group as "scouts" 😉 Will it be great, we will communicate this, as we possibly come with a larger delegation in 2018.
 
The flight goes smoothly, although we were almost late for our gate. Little tip for KLM; once it is a busgate, such details really aren’t too much. We land at Southampton and grab the train to Wareham. The last stretch to the hotel we share a taxi with Meropi Toumbas and her husband. They come from Cyprus.

Arriving at the Springfield Country Club Hotel we have lunch together. Somewhat later Inge and An arrive, the booked rooms are available and we’re going to look for them. Suitcases, where is the elevator? Wwaaaattt NO elevator ??? Are you kidding? But no, it turns out serious. My suitcase weighs 23 kg. and really must be dragged up the stairs. Weird huh, worn stair steps!
 
I share a triple bedroom with An and Annemarie. This appears to be located at quite an extreme upper corner of one of the hotel wings. Could this mean something, hahaha ?! The first day after dinner, we sit in the cozy bar for coffee and/or a drink. Then to bed, we have busy days ahead.
 
The beds of Annemarie and me are made with a plastic mattress cover. This creaks with every change of sleeping position, it drowns out even our snoring 😉 The room door opens and closes inconvenient, sometimes even difficult. There are times when we consider preparing an emergency plan to leave the room by the roof or fire escape. Otherwise, please note there is a chance that we miss breakfast. And the highlight is surely our shower. A private space capsule in which a start button causes the water supply. The sound associated with this is similar to a real rocket launch. Viewers and we have a chance to an encounter with Pluto or Jupiter, hahaha. Utterly hilarious. 

And so, three intensive days full of lively master classes, hands-on sessions, demonstrations and talks. I myself have reserved for the following classes:
 

• Friday all day                : Masterclass “Spinning Mandala Earrings” with Wanaree Tanner
• Saturday Morning     : Hands-on session “Fuchsia Earrings” with Tracey Spurgin
• Saturday Afternoon : Demo “’Photopolymer Plates” with Tracey Spurgin
• Sunday Morning         : Hands-on session “950 Ring Making” with Kuniaki Iwahashi
• Sunday Afternoon     : Yet again walked in at Wanaree’s class

 
And in the "free" hours we visit the Make It Market, deadly for the wallet. Everything is fun, convenient, and useful for sale. Fortunately, I can reasonably manage myself, I also have colleagues walking around with trolleys, so I mean.
 
And let’s not forget the Charm Swap. My cupcake charms I was able to exchange for 35 different gorgeous, self-designed charms of fellow instructors and metal clay colleagues. Oh and the Raffles and Meet The Makers Round Table Sessions. Busy full days and everything was top organized.

Sunday at the end of the day we say goodbye, a good number of participants go home already. We stay an extra night and fly back to the Netherlands Monday. There Joyce, An, Inge and I will attend two masterclasses in Mijdrecht. Unfortunately, Annemarie can’t join this.
 
I look back on a amazing conference, it was great! Dear all, thanks for the organization, the sharing of knowledge, the atmosphere, delicious food, everything! And a special note for the colleagues of our Benelux network, girls what have I laughed !!!
 
With a warm feeling, I think back to these days. Next year I hope to be back and party with all of you. To me YCMI 2017 is associated with:
 

• Friendship
• Embroidered roses Annemarie (always handy if you tear out your pants)
• Showering in space shuttle
• Room escape attempts
• Incontinence bed mattresses
• Food & Drinks
• Summertime
• Metal Clay
• Charm Swap
• Baileys
• YCMI 2018!

Last weekend Sharon Vorst from Almelo followed the first level in the training leading up to an Art Clay Silver Instructor. Sharon is very creative and an all-rounder. Now she adds the basic techniques of working with silver clay. Subsequently she signed up for the Supplement Training UV Resin, which she completed today.
 
3 long days she was present at Studio "Nevada's Dream". At exactly 9:00 am we started the training days and despite the distance and the associated travel time, she was neat on time every day.

Dear Sharon, I’d like to thank you for your positive, creative input and wish you every success as colleague instructor within the Benelux network!

Also in 2017 Studio "Nevada's Dream" will be participating at the biggest Dutch hobby fair KreaDoe Utrecht. In collaboration with Renske Dussel of "Renske-Art" from De Bilt and Edith van Leeuwen of “ArtiChic" from Hillegom cozy silver clay workshops will be offered. Of course it is also possible to purchase materials.

In the evening I drive home, thinking about our plans. As a team, we agree; we will offer a wider choice to our workshop customers. Not only they’re able to make the usual charms, but also pendants, earrings and beads. Son getting started, with fine examples.
 
Curious? Want to get introduced to this unique silver experience and participate in a fun and educational workshop? Then come to the KreaDoe Utrecht and visit our stand. From 1 to November 5, 2017 we warmly welcome you

Today Studio "Nevada's Dream" is visited by four girl friends, Lucia, Jolande, Margreet and Els. They are all creative and meet weekly on Thursdays. At first the request was therefore to reserve a workshop at an appropriate Thursday. For me this is not an option, after all from Tuesday to Friday, I work as an employed person.
​In agreement therefore we ultimately planned Monday, March 6th.
 
The ladies have previously deposited their wishes. They aren’t coming to just follow a workshop Silver Clay. Familiar with the material they just need extra knowledge and technology. The wish list appears so long, in order to offer all of this, we need at least one week ;-)
 
We agree to focus the workshop creating a ring in which a natural stone is being processed. All other questions can be handled then be treated while working. Margreet cleverly brought an iPad and asks permission to record and film the entire workshop. Great idea, with this the ladies directly have a nice reference at home too.
 
The day is cozy in a tight work schedule. Of course, we relax in between with freshly baked cake, coffee, tea, delicious sandwiches and chocolate.
 
We finish at the end of the afternoon. Lucia leaves slightly earlier than the other three ladies, she has to care for her dog. Because of this, I wasn’t able to photograph her design. The creations of Jolande, Margreet Els and I was able to capture.
 
Ladies, thank you for the fine, creative input. Wishing you for the future success with Metal Clay!

Like many Metal Clay colleagues already know, our own Frank Hupse is going to leave the Benelux Network.

​Along with his great love and life partner Jessica Krul, he leaves mid-May 2017 to Sweden.

Several years ago, Jessica signed up at Studio "Nevada's Dream" for a workshop Art Clay Silver in combination with UV-Resin. I met her that day as a warm, honest and enthusiastic person. This enthusiasm she established that day in Metal Clay and returning home - how could it be otherwise - Frank had to believe in Metal Clay as well. He was more or less dragged to the next Metal Clay date in my studio.
 
And Jessica knows her partner; Frank was also struck by the virus and joined our instructor network. And what we have experienced and laughed a lot in recent years Frank. What are we going to miss you. Fortunately, keeping in touch easier nowadays, cheers for the digital age.
 
Saturday February 25, I read a tag on Facebook. Jessica is about to come to my studio. Completely startled I send her an app telling her I'm sick, can we reschedule the appointment? Ppffff happy, it’s March 4th now. Let's hope I'm back to full strength. Excuses are well in place, I seriously forgot her in my cancellation round.
 
Today, Jessica has been over yet. Her request to be able creating relationship rings for Frank and herself, I’ve adopted a few weeks ago. Daring enough, as a surprise for Frank, she therefore makes both rings by her selves. Frank's ring size, I have discovered already February 12 at the charity workshop. Delicious conspiracy ;-)
 
Jessica and Frank both love simple and yet some robust. She makes two basic rings and endorse them with a somewhat grossly structure. After firing, coloring and polishing, this is the final result. Gorgeous!

In the evening I receive a WhatsApp from Frank: "Man you are bad. . . I thought it was odd during the workshop. . . but what a super cool idea!!!!! Am really happy and proud!"
 
I laugh, how nice this was! Dear Frank and Jessica, we're going to miss you, that's for sure. I wish you all the happiness and good in Sweden. Love will be your guide. We'll keep in touch.   Xxx